The first two-day instalment of the Hove Park festival went better than anyone could have hoped. Over the weekend, the sun was shining, the fans turned out in force, and most importantly, the music flowed with ease from speakers into waiting ears.

The family-oriented first day sold out for its third year running. Alongside myriad child-friendly activities and stalls, the musical programme talked up, rather than down, to the children in the crowd. Lakuta were among the highlights, although sadly they played without the full band. King Porter Stomp were sounding huge, as always, with brass spilling off the stage. Neither minded the crowd being made up of a majority of under-12s, and got a fair number of the kids dancing – although some of the finer socio-political discourse in their lyrics may have gone over the crowd’s heads.

Professor Elemental was most at his ease with the challenges of a family festival. The ‘posh rapper’ adapted to a persona that was half rapper, half children’s entertainer, and came out the clear favourite of the audience as a result of his great energy and humour. Vula And The Atlantic Horns had been a name many had come to see, and she sang with all the power associated with her name. Harleighblu had the misfortune of closing the lineup. Unfortunately as the sun started to dip, the children’s energy faded and the arena drained almost entirely, just as her band were setting up. At a different time and in another place, Harleighblu might have been blinding – but as it was, they played to an almost empty field.

Funk the Family’s lineup was strong, but it was clear that the music was intended to form only one part in a variety of entertainment. The following day, Funk the Format was the main event, musically: gone were all the kids’ stalls (and all the kids), and the really exciting names came onto the stage. Lebeaux caused a lot of talk with their opening set, which most agreed was too short. J-Felix followed, blasting funk that managed to sound retro and futuristic at the same time, and fronted by the excellent Abi Flynn. Normanton Street played with their usual style and effortless rhythm, making the opening acts a trio of Brighton’s strongest emerging bands.

With Nubiyan Twist though, the festival hit a new level. The arena was now quite full, and the noise of their enormous horns section pulled in the crowd from all over the festival. The first mass dancing of the day was done to their funked-up afrobeat, and fostered by their lead-singer’s engagement of the crowd. Norman Jay MBE followed and from the first notes of his set, the euphoria started to flow. The crowd had the pleasure of over an hour of downtempo groove and sunshine tunes from a true master of the decks. Soul II Soul rounded off the lineup, taking to the stage in force, building the tension and energy throughout their set to an explosive finish.

Funk the Format’s lineup was truly exceptional – not the biggest names in the whole world, but ones that had been carefully chosen, that fitted together, and that resulted in a very special festival. Funk the Family was a different animal. The music, while great, took a back seat to a more general aim of family entertainment: if you’ve got kids and want to take them to a festival, there’s none better. But Funk the Format’s the festival for music lovers through and through, showcasing as it did some big, good-times-guaranteed names, alongside some of Brighton’s best emerging talent. Where it goes next year will be very interesting – they’ve set their own benchmark very high indeed.
Ben Noble

Website: http://www.funktheformat.co.uk/